title: Isospora daphnensis n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the medium ground finch (Geospiza fortis) from the Galapagos Islands.
abstract: In March and April 1987 fecal samples from 237 nestling birds, including 199 from 85 nest sites of Geospiza fortis, 23 from 12 nest sites of Geospiza scandens, 6 from 2 nest sites of Geospiza magnirostris, and 9 from 2 nest sites of hybrids involving Geospiza fuliginosa and G. fortis, were collected from Daphne Major in the Galapagos archipelago and examined for coccidia. Only 3 of 4 nestlings from 1 nest site of G. fortis (1.5%) had oocysts in their feces. Two of the 3 infected nestlings had concurrent infections of Isospora temeraria, and all 3 nestlings were infected with a new species. Isospora daphnensis n. sp. Sporulated oocysts of I. daphnensis n. sp. are ellipsoidal, 27.3 x 23.6 (22-30 x 20-27) microns; a polar body is present, but no oocyst residuum or micropyle occurs. The oocyst wall, approximately 1.5 microns thick, is composed of a mammillated outer layer and thinner inner layer. Sporocysts are ovoid, 15.2 x 10.2 (15-16 x 9-11) microns and have a nipplelike Stieda body and a small substieda body. The sporocysts contain an irregularly shaped, smoothly contoured residuum with uniform granules and 4 sporozoites with a large refractile body at one end and lying randomly in the sporocysts.
authors.affiliation: Millikin University, Department of Biology, Decatur, Illinois 62522.
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: McQuistion
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D001717:Birds; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004484:Ecuador / Q000453:epidemiology; D007549:Isospora / Q000145:classification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015995:Prevalence